Colorado prisons say they could run out of room next year. Lawmakers say they’ve heard the alarm bef
The escalating political pressure comes at a critical juncture for the prison system, whose officials warn lawmakers they could run out of space to hold people as soon as next year. But after prior cries of alarm proved premature last summer, lawmakers are approaching the latest projections with skepticism, and instead pushing forward with sweeping reforms aimed at forcing the department’s hand. “We can no longer give the Department of Corrections blank checks,” Rep. Leslie H
Senators push to reopen state prison in final week of the session, bucking correctional reform effor
The momentum came to an end Tuesday when the House Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 along party lines to kill the bill. Several of the committee members wanted to prevent the prison from opening so that the Department of Corrections would be pressured to transition inmates into community corrections and parole. The proposed spending comes as the state’s prison population is expected to rise above 20,000 inmates as soon as next year, according to state economists, in part due to
Why the governor says the 'secret prisons' bill didn't get a public signing
Signing bills into law is a delicate dance of convenience, availability and equity. Gov. John Hickenlooper is taking heat from Democrats and Republicans and victims of crimes for not publicly signing a bill to stop the secret transfer of prisoners in Colorado. Victims have expressed the desire to know where their perpetrators are serving time. Most inmates incarcerated in the Colorado Department of Corrections are easily found on-line. Over the nearly two yearsthat 9Wants to
Bill to notify victims of inmate’s location heads to governor
“Families should have the peace of mind of knowing where the person who harmed or killed a loved one is incarcerated,” Wist said in a statement. “This legislation is simply about transparency, and the unanimous support this bill received in both the House and Senate shows how important honoring victims is to this institution.” The bill was co-sponsored in the House by Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, and it was carried in the Senate by two well-known advocates for victims’ right,
